Die for the manufacture of caps for railroad-frogs



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

w D. O. PIERCE.

- Dies for the Manufoture 0f Caps for Railroad-Frogs.

- No. 224,607. PatentedFeb IY, 1880.

".Pms. PHOrmLITHQGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

D. 0. PIERCE; oture of Gaps for Railroad-Frogs.

Dies for the Manufa Patented Feb. 17, I880.

5mm y 777m ea aes.

UNITED STATES- PATENT CFrIcn.

DENISON C. PIERCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

p E FOR THE MANUFACTURE 10F CAPS FOR .RAILROAD-FROGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 224,607, dated February 17, 1880..

a Application filed July 3,1879.

Improvements in Dies for the Manufacture of Caps for Railroad-Frogs; and I do hereby (leclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. i I

Figure lis a. side elevation of myimproved dies open, ready forthe reception of the frogplate. Fig. 2 is an end view, showing the cutters for shaping one end of the plate. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the dies with the heated plate inserted and the operation of pressing commenced on the point of the cap. Fig. 4: is an end view, showing the cutters for shaping the opposite end of the capplate from that shaped by the cutters shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the dies closed completely on thefrog-plate, but with the punches held back out of contact with the plate. Fig. 6. is a transverse vertical section on line a: in of Fig.5, showing-the punchplate closed upon the upper die and the punches driven through the frog-plate. Fig. 7 is a top view of the completed cap-plate.

The same letter indicates the same part in all the figures where it occurs.

The object of my invention is to press the steel caps of railroad-frogs in one or more pieces by hydraulic or other power, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture. By this process frog-plates may be made from platesteel, in place of casting from crucible, Bessemer, or other ductile steels, or making them by the process of forging.

The nature of the invention consists in subjecting a plate of steel heated to the proper temperature to the action of a single pair or series of male and female dies of peculiar construction, and operated by hydraulic or other adequate power, whereby the steel plate is caused to assume the desired form. The plate may be pressed complete by one pair or set of dies, or two or more sets may be used. In the latter case one set of dies may be used to formsuccessively subjected to the action of properlyconfigurated surfaces for forming the point and for fashioning the sides of the cap, and to punches for makingtheholes by means of which it is to be fixed in position.

The male die M is formed in two parts--a movable section, B, which forms the point of the cap, and the main body, which presses up the rest of the plate. The section B rests in a recess upon two eccentric rollers, e0, provided with cranks pivoted to a bar and operated by the lever L, by means of which this section of the die may be raised or lowered, as desired.

Above the male die M is located the female die F, the under side of which has a configuration corresponding conversely to that of the die M and to the form of the finished plate. I

It is provided with three eccentric rollers, cc e, like those supporting section B, having cranks C, pivoted to bar D, which is pivoted to lever E, so that that lever can operate the eccentrics and raise and hold up the plate A or allow it to descend, as required.

To plate Aare attached anumber of punches, p, which pass down through die F, and when the plate A is in contact with the upper surface of that die enter, by their points, holes provided to receive them in die M. (See Figs. 1 and 6.) p

a c b and c c 01 mark the cuttingedges at the ends of the dies for shaping the ends of the frog-plate, giving it the projections f and g g, as shown in Fig. 7. h 71. indicate the holes by means of which and suitable spikes or bolts the finished cap is fixed in position.

The operation of making the frog-plate is as follows: The dies F M are attached to the bedplate and platen of a hydraulic or other suitable press having the necessary power. Either the upper or lower platen, or both, may be movable, as preferred. The dies are separated, as shown in Fig. 1, for the introduction of the heated steel plate P, the movable section B of the male die M being raised to its highest level by the eccentrics 0, so that that portion of the die shall be first brought into operation upon the plate to form the point G. The plateAis also raised to its greatest height, in order to withdraw the punches p within the die F, by

means of lever E or other mechanical means. and the eccentrics operated by it. The forceof the press is now applied, and the point Gr having been formed between section B and die F, section B is allowed gradually to retire into its recess in die M while the'ma'in body of that die is cooperating with die F in forming the remainder of the frog-plate. When the dies are brought completely home the plate D is allowed to descend, the support of eccentrics 6 being withdrawn from under it by means of lever E, when the power of the press drives the punches 19 through the frog-plate P, forming the holes h for the attachment of the plate in position..

The plate may be withdrawn for reheating during the process, if found desirable.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The combination of the male die M, provided with the movable section B, and mech-- anism for raising and lowering the same, with the female die F, for the purpose of forming the point of the frog plate by the first opera tion of the dies, as specified.

2. The combination, with the female die F, of the main body of the male die, having the movable section B, proy ided with eccentric rollers e, and mechanism for operating them to raise and lower the section B, all as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with the female die F, of the plate A, provided with the punches p, eccentrics e, cranks 0, rod D, and lever'E, all constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. Jointly with the dies constructed as described, the cutters a (t b and c c d, arranged and operating in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I affix hereto my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DENISON G. PIERCE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. FERGUSON, H. B. MUNN. 

